HAZEL DELL, Wash. — A simple trip to Walmart turned frightening for a young mother in southwest Washington. She says a 79-year-old man punched her in the face and pushed her to the ground while she was putting her baby into his car seat.
Timothy Coe, 79, of Vancouver, has been arrested and charged with one count of fourth-degree assault, according to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
A Tap on the Car Started It All
Deputies were called to the Walmart in the 9000 block of NE Highway 99 in Hazel Dell at 10:13 a.m. on November 10 for a reported assault.
The mother told deputies she was putting her infant into his car seat when another driver tried to pull into the parking spot right next to her. Worried the car was about to hit her, she said she tapped it with her hand to warn the driver.
According to the sheriff’s office, that tap made the driver furious. Investigators say the man, later identified as Coe, got out of his car and an argument broke out.
What Deputies Say Happened
The woman told deputies that Coe punched her on the right side of her face with his left fist and grabbed her arms. Deputies saw redness on her face, swelling around her eyelid and bruising on her arms.
A witness stepped in and separated the two, the sheriff’s office said.
The mother stayed at the scene and gave deputies video, photos of the suspect and his car, and his license plate number.
The Mother Shares Her Side
In a statement to KOIN, the Portland CBS station, the woman, who asked not to be named, said she tapped the car because the driver nearly hit her open car door while backing up.
She said she started recording on her phone as things got heated. She claims the man knocked her phone, stopping the recording, and then punched her.
The mother said she had already put her son inside the car and locked the door, but he was not yet buckled in. She said the man then came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her and held her hands while trying to take her phone.
She said she screamed, kicked and swung her elbows to break free, but couldn’t reach her phone to call for help.
Arrest Made the Next Morning
Deputies went to Coe’s home in Vancouver the next morning and arrested him without incident. He was booked into the Clark County Jail.
By Friday afternoon, Coe was no longer listed as in custody. It was not immediately clear when he is scheduled to appear in court.
The charge against Coe is an accusation. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Sources:
- Clark County Sheriff’s Office news release
- KOIN 6 News (Portland, Oregon)